Important moments, fond memories, and the most influential people you will ever meet can sometimes be found in a fourth grade classroom. A fourth grade classroom is a magical place, where the future adults of our world learn about simple machines, geography, history, and how to interact with other curious, unmolded minds. This time period is so crucial and mystifying becuase kids either dream of who they want to become, or notice who they do not want to be. I can't say I know this from a teacher's perspective and I can't say for sure if educators realize how heavy a role they play in a child's life, but I know first hand the priceless value of these early years. I learned one of my greatest life lessons in the fourth grade. Kindness and amiability are small, priceless virtues to give to the world.
In Mrs. Lee's class on the top floor of Flemming Elementary school, my class of twenty-something fourth graders were traveling all over the state of Vermont without ever leaving the classroom. Up on the board there was a map. We were split into teams of four or five for a race across the state as the miniature Ethan Allen's we were pretending to be. In order to travel the greatest distance, your team had to collect the greatest amount of buttons, either by cleaning up, listening to directions, or answering trivia about Ethan Allen correctly. I did not think much of it; I always did as I was supposed to in class. So, I went off to lunch after our geography lesson ignorant of my own self-goodness.
It was then in Flemming's cafeteria that I saw Jessica. Jessica was different. I remember meaningless physical features such as how she was obese as a fourth grader, she had short dark brown hair that was nearly black, she was slightly shorter than I was at the time, and Jessica had special needs. I also remember that Jessica was the nicest human being I had ever come across, and now looking back I believe that she still is the kindest person I've met in my lifetime. One time I missed a day of school and returned to a Get Well card from Jessica. I did not think anyone had even realized I was gone, but Jessica did. That was just the kind of person she was. Jessica wasn't bullied, not that I can recall. But that day in the lunchroom that smelled of fish sticks and floor cleaner, I saw that Jessica was sitting alone. Nobody likes to sit alone in the fourth grade, so I sat next to her. I sat next to her because Jessica was kind without bounds and for that she was beautiful. It was unbeknownst to me that I had created attention to myself and was being watched. By the time our class returned from lunch, Mrs. Lee announced to the class that I had earned ten buttons for my team toward our Ethan Allen race, and then she asked me, in front of everyone, if I had any idea why. I didn’t. She explained to the class of the lunch scenario that I had not even thought of as significant because all I did was sit with Jessica. I turned to look at Jessica only to see a giant grin of innocence and happiness on her face.
Kindness and amiability are small, priceless virtues to give to the world. I didn’t know this until the fourth grade. Jessica taught me this and I was fortunate enough to experience it for myself. Mrs. Lee taught me of its importance and taught me that small kind acts make a big difference. For this Jessica is a strong influence in my life, even though I haven't seen her in years. Mrs. Lee too is responsible for when I learned how good kindness feels. She made a big deal out of what seemed to me as nothing of importance. I’m not sure that I would have recognized that I had done a good thing if Mrs. Lee did not make me feel like I had done a good thing. And maybe without her I would not have carried that moment with me. Maybe I owe all of my future acts of kindness to Jessica and Mrs. Lee for letting me in on the secret that it feels good to make other people proud and happy.
I still think of that moment from time to time. I still think of the small things and how they affect the people around me. I think of it when I buy gifts for my family or help my parents out with chores and get good grades. I do it partly for myself but largely I do it to make them smile or to make them proud. I’m not saying I am a saint and that because of this essential moment in my life I am always kind and that I never disappoint anybody, because I do. But because of this moment I find joy in the small kind things. Not joy for the recognition I receive, but because it felt so darn good to make Mrs. Lee proud and to know I made Jessica smile. This is what the fourth grade taught me.
In Mrs. Lee's class on the top floor of Flemming Elementary school, my class of twenty-something fourth graders were traveling all over the state of Vermont without ever leaving the classroom. Up on the board there was a map. We were split into teams of four or five for a race across the state as the miniature Ethan Allen's we were pretending to be. In order to travel the greatest distance, your team had to collect the greatest amount of buttons, either by cleaning up, listening to directions, or answering trivia about Ethan Allen correctly. I did not think much of it; I always did as I was supposed to in class. So, I went off to lunch after our geography lesson ignorant of my own self-goodness.
It was then in Flemming's cafeteria that I saw Jessica. Jessica was different. I remember meaningless physical features such as how she was obese as a fourth grader, she had short dark brown hair that was nearly black, she was slightly shorter than I was at the time, and Jessica had special needs. I also remember that Jessica was the nicest human being I had ever come across, and now looking back I believe that she still is the kindest person I've met in my lifetime. One time I missed a day of school and returned to a Get Well card from Jessica. I did not think anyone had even realized I was gone, but Jessica did. That was just the kind of person she was. Jessica wasn't bullied, not that I can recall. But that day in the lunchroom that smelled of fish sticks and floor cleaner, I saw that Jessica was sitting alone. Nobody likes to sit alone in the fourth grade, so I sat next to her. I sat next to her because Jessica was kind without bounds and for that she was beautiful. It was unbeknownst to me that I had created attention to myself and was being watched. By the time our class returned from lunch, Mrs. Lee announced to the class that I had earned ten buttons for my team toward our Ethan Allen race, and then she asked me, in front of everyone, if I had any idea why. I didn’t. She explained to the class of the lunch scenario that I had not even thought of as significant because all I did was sit with Jessica. I turned to look at Jessica only to see a giant grin of innocence and happiness on her face.
Kindness and amiability are small, priceless virtues to give to the world. I didn’t know this until the fourth grade. Jessica taught me this and I was fortunate enough to experience it for myself. Mrs. Lee taught me of its importance and taught me that small kind acts make a big difference. For this Jessica is a strong influence in my life, even though I haven't seen her in years. Mrs. Lee too is responsible for when I learned how good kindness feels. She made a big deal out of what seemed to me as nothing of importance. I’m not sure that I would have recognized that I had done a good thing if Mrs. Lee did not make me feel like I had done a good thing. And maybe without her I would not have carried that moment with me. Maybe I owe all of my future acts of kindness to Jessica and Mrs. Lee for letting me in on the secret that it feels good to make other people proud and happy.
I still think of that moment from time to time. I still think of the small things and how they affect the people around me. I think of it when I buy gifts for my family or help my parents out with chores and get good grades. I do it partly for myself but largely I do it to make them smile or to make them proud. I’m not saying I am a saint and that because of this essential moment in my life I am always kind and that I never disappoint anybody, because I do. But because of this moment I find joy in the small kind things. Not joy for the recognition I receive, but because it felt so darn good to make Mrs. Lee proud and to know I made Jessica smile. This is what the fourth grade taught me.